Things I've Learned from Beverly Cleary by Caroline Starr Rose from Project Mayhem: The Manic Minds of Middle Grade Writers. Peek: "Though she doesn't shy away from awkward moments, there is a tenderness in the way Cleary deals with Ramona when she throws up in class, when she kicks her bedroom walls in anger, when she names her doll the most beautiful name she can think of."

American Indians and Diversity in Young Adult Literature by Debbie Reese from Diversity in YA Fiction. Peek: "The story itself is heartbreaking for what it tells us about government programs that, in this case, used Native children as subjects for scientific experiments. Debby’s book (My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson (Marshall Cavendish)) is inspiring, too, because it also tells us just how strong Indigenous people and our Nations are, in spite of all the governmental programs designed to 'kill the Indian and save the man.'" Note: includes bibliography of middle grade and YA recommendations.

Attention Texas Authors & Illustrators! Please consider making a donation to the Austin SCBWI Bastrop Library Fund. Peek: "They have planned to tie two children’s books together with a ribbon and put a package into as many children’s hands as they possibly can." See more information.

Anneographies: children's book author Anne Bustard on her favorite picture book biographies and a few collected biographies, too, birthday by birthday.

Early Readers vs. Picture Books by Robin Smith from The Horn Book. Peek: "Books for new readers tend to have a few characteristics that are not required for picture books."

Writing on a Theme by Mary Kole from Kidlit.com. Peek: "What is the big question you want your story to answer? What is the thing you’re asking or hoping to express about the universe and life itself? What are you exploring? What do you wish you could solve about your own life? What have you observed about being alive? That’s your Big Idea and/or Big Question and I think every book should have it…otherwise, what’s the point?" See also Mary on Query Personalization and Territory by Laura Oliver from Glimmer Train Press; source: Jane Friedman.

Recommended Realistic Fiction for Boys by Kristen Remenar from ReaderKidZ. Peek: "My son loves his family very much, but he doesn’t want to read about families, or school, or anything to do with relationships, and these are the most common elements in contemporary realistic fiction for kids. So I found books that met the requirements that are funny, or have an irresistible plot twist, or tell a story where the reader wishes he could be there, too."

Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Shandra Strickland from Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Peek: "Picture books give me freedom to interpret the story in my own way. I can add elements that aren’t necessarily in the text, and I have plenty of room to develop the story. Because I have more experience at making books now, my approach to illustrating an emergent reader would be much different than when I was starting out."

The Writing Life by Sherryl Clark from Books and Writing. Peek: "Making writing your life can mean other unchallenging, boring things can fall off your plate, and you let them without any sense of obligation. Your life is now a challenge instead of a trudge from day to day." Source: Kristi Holl from Writer's First Aid.

Treating the Pain of Rejection by Ash Krafton from QueryTracker.netBlog. Peek: "The only way writers can avoid rejection is to avoid submitting work. Considering that abstinence is a pretty harsh therapy, I suggest you do the exact opposite: submit everything, submit often, submit everywhere. Kind of a hair-of-the-dog approach."

"In an effort to build awareness about the remarkable books written for children and teens across the globe, the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has established the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Every two years, one author and one illustrator are selected as recipients of the award, considered by many to be the world’s most prestigious in children’s publishing. Maurice Sendak, for example, is the only illustrator from the United States to ever win this award.

"In the spirit of IBBY’s mission to foster global connections to great books and stories, TeachingBooks.net has developed the following digital collection of recordings and websites. This archive introduces fans of children’s and young adult books to the authors and illustrators that have been nominated for the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

"We contacted and recorded as many of the 57 nominees from 32 countries as we could, and present below audio recordings of these men and women accurately pronouncing and speaking about their names, as well as their personal websites or Wikipedia entries.

"We hope that these materials enable readers to become aware of the passion and the personalities that bring books and children together, worldwide." See more information.

Enter to win The Flint Heart by Katherine and John Paterson, illustrated by John Rocco (Candlewick, 2011)! To enter, comment on this post (click preceding link and scroll) and include an email address (formatted like: cynthia at cynthialeitichsmith dot com) or a link to an email address. Or email Cynthia directly with "The Flint Heart" in the subject line. Publisher-sponsored. Eligibility: U.S. Deadline: midnight CST Nov. 14.

Celebrate Malinda Lo's newly redesigned and relaunched official author site by entering to win the tie-in giveaway, featuring 10 signed hardcover copies of Huntress (Little, Brown), as well as three paperback U.K. editions, three paperback U.K. editions of Ash (Little, Brown), and a bunch of Ash posters (12×18 inches).

Thank you to Carmen A. Escamilla, the librarians/IT gurus, and students who made my online visit yesterday with Alexander High School, L.B.J. High School, United High School, United High School (9th Grade) and United South High School in Laredo, Texas such a great experience! Thanks for your wonderful questions and for your enthusiasm for the Tantalize series!

Thoanks to Bethany Hegedus for sending this shelf shot of Blessed (Walker Books, 2011) from a bookshop in Dublin, Ireland.

Is Austin, Texas Paradise for YA Authors? by David Duhr from Publishing Perspectives. Peek: "Where can you find a tight-knit, post-Potter community with strong leadership and a mentoring tradition for young adult writers? In the middle of Texas, y’all."

Cover Stories: Tantalize: Kieren's Story from Melissa Walker. Peek: "The cover illustration of Kieren is very masculine at a time when depictions of boys in YA cover art tend to skew pretty. This feels authentic to Kieren, who’s determined not to be a danger to others but is still willing to go dominant when interacting with other shifters."

Cynsational Interns

Robin Galbraith holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Kate Pentecost holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is the YA author of Elysium Girls (Hyperion, winter 2020). Kate is represented by Sara Crowe of Pippin Properties.